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    Destroy Me
    Destroy Me
    Destroy Me
    Ebook136 pages1 hour

    Destroy Me

    By Tahereh Mafi

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Set after Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me and before Unravel Me, Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45. Even though Juliette shot him in order to escape, Warner can't stop thinking about her—and he'll do anything to get her back. But when the Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment arrives, he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner cannot allow.

    The Shatter Me series is perfect for fans who crave action-packed young adult novels with tantalizing romance like Divergent and The Hunger Games. This captivating story, which combines the best of dystopian and paranormal, was praised as "a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love" by Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

    Don’t miss Defy Me, the shocking fifth book in the Shatter Me series!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateOct 2, 2012
    ISBN9780062208194
    Destroy Me
    Author

    Tahereh Mafi

    Tahereh Mafi is the New York Times bestselling author of the Shatter Me and This Woven Kingdom series, the latter of which has been published in over 30 languages around the world. She was born in a small city somewhere in Connecticut and currently resides in Santa Monica, California, with her husband, Ransom Riggs, fellow bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children, and their young daughter. She can usually be found overcaffeinated and stuck in a book.

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    Reviews for Destroy Me

    4.5/5

    259 ratings18 reviews

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    • 5/5
      The characters made everything amazing especially with everything that happened
    • 4/5
      This was an interesting read! I like how we got more depth to this character and I'm excited to pick up the next one!!
    • 5/5
      I liked it but I wish there was more to it. (spoilers from the books) I want to know what warner felt while he was hostage at omega point
    • 4/5
      A short novella told from Warner's POV. I really liked it and now want to continue with this series. i got a little more invested in his character and trying to figure out his motives. I can't wait to read more about him.
    • 5/5
      awesome
    • 5/5
      Be sure to read both novellas in chronological order in the series, which, incidentally, is the order in which they were published. They are essential to character development.
    • 3/5
      I've done the mistake of reading the whole series before. People from the future, read this right after Shatter me because otherwise this becomes useless since everything gets explained in Unravel me as well. Still good, I love Warner so much.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      This novella that follows "Shatter Me" gives us a great deal more insight into the evil Warner, son of the supreme commander of The Reestablishment regime. While he is clearly the antagonist in "Shatter Me," this time around the block we get to see the forces that have molded him into the man-shaped creature that he is now.While it is easier to see why he behaves as he does it still does not excuse his behavior, nor his lack of backbone. By this point in his life he should at least be able to stand up to his own father, or better yet take advantage of their relationship and rid the world of such a horrible beast. That seems like it would be the ideal solution since Warner seems to have a fairly large suicidal streak running through himself, and he knows there is no way he could kill his father without being killed himself.The way Warner relates to Juliette through her notebook that got left behind is sad and rather pathetic. He invades Juliette's private thoughts by reading and rereading her journal until he can almost recite it verbatim and decides that they are too much alike one another to be apart. He feels that they are soul-mates, and that since he understands her so well, she too must understand him. Or would if given the time according to the few semi-rational brain cells he still has firing.That his physical disability, caused by Juliette, eases the way for his mental breakdown is somehow poetic justice. As his body heals his obsession with her spirals farther out of control, causing cracks in the facade holding all his fractured pieces together. As he frantically searches to find before his father locates her and destroys her, Juliette and Adam are settling in to the Omega Point. Their precipitous flight from the military base caused some problems, particularly when Kenji showed up at their door, leading Warner et al. directly to the home Adam had so painstakingly created for his ten-year old brother James. Kenji leads them to the safety if Omega Point, yet it still feels a bit like a betrayal to Adam, having to walk away from the safe environment he took such pains to builds for James.Kenji, Adam, and Juliette settle in at Omega, but Juliette struggles with being apart from Adam since there is a men's wing and a women's wing, with no middle ground. Add to this only seeing Adam for a few moments each day and Juliette is beginning to fray around the edges. On top of that is the way she is treated in Omega, with parents pulling their children away from Juliette, people moving to the far side of the corridor when she walks by, and the less than friendly glances she get. So it should be no surprise that she is struggling, yet Castle puts the blame on Juliette's shoulders, saying she isn't actively trying to be one a part of their community.Between the revelations of just how unstable Warner is when it comes to Juliette, and the trio's escape from Warner's clutches at the military compound, this made for a fascinating read. Shorter than Books One & Two of the Trilogy, it offers very interesting insight into a complex character that plays a pivotal role in the series. Easily worth the brief time it takes to read, and well worth it for the light it sheds on some of Warner's motivation. This book is actually part of the trilogy in my opinion, even if not considered a trilogy book, in large part because much of what takes place here is referenced in "Unravel Me."
    • 4/5
      I did not expect to enjoy this novella, but was desperate for more Mafi. I definitely did not expect to feel so much sympathy for Warner, this novella sets up some interesting conflict for book 2.
    • 3/5
      I'm not sure what this new trend of "e-originals" is all about...it's kind of annoying (it it just about the money? It must be otherwise they would all be free instead of $2). I mean, Lauren Oliver seems to have one every couple of weeks and Marissa Meyer has quite a few, too.Anyway, even though they annoy me, I feel the need to read them. It's not like they add a lot to the story...I mean, when only the first book has been published, is there really much that can be added?In the case of this one, we get to see a little into the crazed mind of Warner. Do I feel bad for him that his father is a tyrant that liked to abuse him? Yes. Do I understand that he and Juliette have some things in common? Yes.But was this "e-original" necessary to tell me those things? No.I should have just waited for the next book...
    • 4/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.Quick & Dirty: An emotional journey and wonderful bridge between Shatter Me and Unravel Me that tells Warner’s side of the story. Do not read if you have not read Shatter Me.Opening Sentence: I’ve been shot.The Review:Destroy Me is a short story (novella) that takes place between Shatter Me and Unravel Me. Unlike the main series, Destroy Me follows Warner and delves deep into his intimate thoughts and feelings. If you haven’t read Shatter Me, you may not want to read this review for it starts off with a *spoiler*. This novella starts right after Warner has been shot by Juliet. His feelings have truly been hurt by Juliet’s betrayal but no matter what he can’t find it in himself to hate her. Warner’s father, the supreme commander of the Reestablishment, has heard of Warner’s troubles and takes charge of Warner’s sector. Warner finds himself trying to be the same tough guy on the outside while inside he is melting for Juliet, while hiding his thoughts from his father.In Shatter Me, Warner seems like the kind of bad guy that seems quite deranged and cruel. As much as I was hoping there was some good in him, there was something not quite right about him and I couldn’t wait for Warner to get what was coming to him. Destroy Me completely shattered my vision of him.The short story accomplished such a major thing as to change my mind about Warner. I like Adam but….I think I’m beginning to like Warner more. I definitely pity Warner more. He is in such a perilous predicament, as the son of the leader of the Reestablishment, he has to live up to his father’s expectations and his harsh rules. As a leader, Warner has to make sure his tough exterior is always showing, he can’t put up with anyone’s “stuff”, because if he shows weakness (like being shot) his soldiers would rather see him dead. Warner does seem to have some good in him but how will this continue to affect him. I did find that Warner was a little too obsessed with Juliet (but really, who hasn’t had some kind of crazy crush like that on someone at one time in their lives?).I recommend reading Destroy Me only if you have read Shatter Me first. Your thoughts on Warner will be altered, if you already liked him, I think you will like him more, if you hated him, I think that could change. Unravel Me will be read with a whole new outlook towards Warner and his motives.Notable Scene:I lock my bedroom door behind me and lean against it. I need just a moment. I reach for the bottle I left on my nightstand and shake out two of the square pills; I toss them into my mouth, closing my eyes as they dissolve. The darkness behind my eyelids is a welcome relief.Until the memory of her face forces itself into my consciousness.I sit down on my bed and drop my head into my hand. I shouldn’t be thinking about her right now. I have hours of paperwork to sort through and the additional stress of my father’s presence to contend with. Dinner with him should be a spectacle. A soul-crushing spectacle.I squeeze my eyes shut tighter and make a weak effort to build the walls that would surely clear my mind. But this time, they don’t work. Her face keeps cropping up, her journal taunting me from its place in my pocket. And I begin to realize that some small part of me doesn’t want to wish away the thoughts of her. Some part of me enjoys the torture.This girl is destroying me.A girl who spent the last year in an insane asylum. A girl who would try to shoot me dead for kissing her. A girl who ran off with another man just to get away from me.Of course this is the girl I would fall for.I close a hand over my mouth.I am losing my mind.FTC Advisory: I purchased my own copy of Destroy Me. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed this novella. In the first book Warner was made out to be the villain. And in this novella, you got to see a whole other side to him, and see why he is the way he is. Now I get to start Unravel Me!! Super stoked to see where this author will lead my imagination to!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I loved it so much. Warner is so cute and I fell in love with him

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      loved it , warner is soo -dare I say it- cute

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      When Tahereh Mafi claimed that this book would make readers love Warren, I thought she was full of shit. Seriously. I mean I love Mafi. She's one of my favorite authors and wrote one of my all-time favorite books, but I just couldn't believe that I could possibly love Warren. I literally despised him in Shatter Me. I thought he was one twisted mofo. So imagine my surprise when I actually started to feel bad for the guy. Destroy Me allowed me to get inside Warren's head and see why he's so creepy and awful. It surprised me that I was actually able to relate to him. Turns out he's not as bad as he seems. I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. There was a part at the end that just stole my heart. I'm still not team Warren, mind you, but if Adam does something jerky, then I will be. The plot obviously deals with Warren trying to find Juliette, and it's intense in a different way than most books. Basically it's like watching a train wreck and not being able to turn away. Warren's mind seems to be breaking, and it was a bit disconcerting to witness it firsthand. Mafi, of course, did a terrific job of putting the reader inside of Warren's head, and he has his own very unique voice. Now that I've read Destroy Me, I extra, super can't wait until Unravel Me is out. Well done, Tahereh.
    • 2/5
      Perfect for the fans of Shatter Me who are desperately awaiting the release of Unravel Me, this novella-length digital original will bridge the gap between these two novels from the perspective of the villain we all love to hate, Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.In Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me, Juliette escaped from The Reestablishment by seducing Warner—and then putting a bullet in his shoulder. But as she’ll learn in Destroy Me, Warner is not that easy to get rid of. . .Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.Set after Shatter Me and before its forthcoming sequel, Unravel Me, Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.ebook, 103 pagesPublished October 2nd 2012 by HarperISBN0062208195 (ISBN13: 9780062208194)edition languageEnglishoriginal titleDestroy MeseriesShatter Me #1.5charactersWarner
    • 5/5
      Warner is one of the most fascinating villains of all time. The entire time he was torturing Juliette in Shatter Me, it was clear that he was intrigued by her and even loved her in his own, twisted way. Destroy Me provides an excellent look inside of Warner’s mind and we find out some surprising things that makes him seem more human and less hateful.Warner and Juliette have a lot in common, and if Warner opened up to Juliette, maybe they could form a type of friendship. Juliette is too broken to be around Warner if he is going to manipulate her into using her abilities to hurt people. She’s a good person at heart and she needs to stop feeling like a monster.Learning more about Warner’s childhood and finding out that he is not quite as merciless as he seems made Destroy Me an utter delight. Warner is a very complex character and discovering what made him into the psycho he is was absolutely fascinating. I am so glad we got a deeper look into Warner’s head and I can’t wait to read more about him in the rest of the series.
    • 5/5
      Warner, Warner, Warner…If you loved Shatter Me, you have to read this. Actually being inside of Warner's head is pretty much…creepy, sad, scary, painful, wondrous…all of the above.Mafi did such a great job with this story. She was able to put in so much emotion into Warner's story, I don't know how someone could read this and not feel for him. He is full of so much pain, and he loves Juliette to a fault. As with Shatter Me, the writing is beautiful. The style was different since we are inside Warner's head instead of Juliette's, but no less powerful. We also see in this story that he is maybe not the monster of a person he tries to pretend he is, and the way he is falling apart over losing Juliette makes the title apt. I'm afraid she is going to ultimately be his downfall.

    Book preview

    Destroy Me - Tahereh Mafi

    Contents

    Prologue

    One

    Two

    Three

    Four

    Five

    Six

    Seven

    Eight

    Nine

    Ten

    Eleven

    Twelve

    Thirteen

    Fourteen

    Fifteen

    Sixteen

    Seventeen

    Eighteen

    Nineteen

    Twenty

    Twenty-One

    Twenty-Two

    Twenty-Three

    Excerpt from Unravel Me

    One

    Two

    Excerpt from Warner’s Files

    Back Ads

    About the Author

    Books by Tahereh Mafi

    Copyright

    About the Publisher

    Prologue

    I’ve been shot.

    And, as it turns out, a bullet wound is even more uncomfortable than I had imagined.

    My skin is cold and clammy; I’m making a herculean effort to breathe. Torture is roaring through my right arm and making it difficult for me to focus. I have to squeeze my eyes shut, grit my teeth, and force myself to pay attention.

    The chaos is unbearable.

    Several people are shouting and too many of them are touching me, and I want their hands surgically removed. They keep shouting Sir! as if they’re still waiting for me to give them orders, as if they have no idea what to do without my instruction. The realization exhausts me.

    Sir, can you hear me? Another cry. But this time, a voice I don’t detest.

    Sir, please, can you hear me—

    I’ve been shot, Delalieu, I manage to say. I open my eyes. Look into his watery ones. I haven’t gone deaf.

    All at once the noise disappears. The soldiers shut up. Delalieu looks at me. Worried.

    I sigh.

    Take me back, I tell him, shifting, just a little. The world tilts and steadies all at once. Alert the medics and have my bed prepared for our arrival. In the meantime, elevate my arm and continue applying direct pressure to the wound. The bullet has broken or fractured something, and this will require surgery.

    Delalieu says nothing for just a moment too long.

    Good to see you’re all right, sir. His voice is a nervous, shaky thing. Good to see you’re all right.

    That was an order, Lieutenant.

    Of course, he says quickly, head bowed. Certainly, sir. How should I direct the soldiers?

    Find her, I tell him. It’s getting harder for me to speak. I take a small breath and run a shaky hand across my forehead. I’m sweating in an excessive way that isn’t lost on me.

    Yes, sir. He moves to help me up, but I grab his arm.

    One last thing.

    Sir?

    Kent, I say, my voice uneven now. Make sure they keep him alive for me.

    Delalieu looks up, his eyes wide. Private Adam Kent, sir?

    Yes. I hold his gaze. I want to deal with him myself.

    One

    Delalieu is standing at the foot of my bed, clipboard in hand.

    His is my second visit this morning. The first was from my medics, who confirmed that the surgery went well. They said that as long as I stay in bed this week, the new drugs they’ve given me should accelerate my healing process. They also said that I should be fit to resume daily activities fairly soon, but I’ll be required to wear a sling for at least a month.

    I told them it was an interesting theory.

    My slacks, Delalieu. I’m sitting up, trying to steady my head against the nausea of these new drugs. My right arm is essentially useless to me now.

    I look up. Delalieu is staring at me, unblinking, Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat.

    I stifle a sigh.

    What is it? I use my left arm to steady myself against the mattress and force myself upright. It takes every ounce of energy I have left, and I’m clinging to the bed frame. I wave away Delalieu’s effort to help; I close my eyes against the pain and dizziness. Tell me what’s happened, I say to him. There’s no point in prolonging bad news.

    His voice breaks twice when he says, Private Adam Kent has escaped, sir.

    My eyes flash a bright, dizzying white behind my eyelids.

    I take a deep breath and attempt to run my good hand through my hair. It’s thick and dry and caked with what must be dirt mixed with my own blood. I’m tempted to punch my remaining fist through the wall.

    Instead I take a moment to collect myself.

    I’m suddenly too aware of everything in the air around me, the scents and small noises and footsteps outside my door. I hate these rough cotton pants they’ve put me in. I hate that I’m not wearing socks. I want to shower. I want to change.

    I want to put a bullet through Adam Kent’s spine.

    Leads, I demand. I move toward my bathroom and wince against the cold air as it hits my skin; I’m still without a shirt. Trying to remain calm. Tell me you have not brought me this information without leads.

    My mind is a warehouse of carefully organized human emotions. I can almost see my brain as it functions, filing thoughts and images away. I lock away the things that do not serve me. I focus only on what needs to be done: the basic components of survival and the myriad things I must manage throughout the day.

    Of course, Delalieu says. The fear in his voice stings me a little; I dismiss it. Yes, sir, he says, we do think we know where he might’ve gone—and we have reason to believe that Private Kent and the—and the girl—well, with Private Kishimoto having run off as well—we have reason to believe that they are all together, sir.

    The drawers in my mind are rattling to break open. Memories. Theories. Whispers and sensations.

    I shove them off a cliff.

    Of course you do. I shake my head. Regret it. Close my eyes against the sudden unsteadiness. Do not give me information I’ve already deduced for myself, I manage to say. I want something concrete. Give me a solid lead, Lieutenant, or leave me until you have one.

    A car, he says quickly. A car was reported stolen, sir, and we were able to track it to an unidentified location, but then it disappeared off the map. It’s as if it ceased to exist, sir.

    I look up. Give him my full attention.

    We followed the tracks it left in our radar, he says, speaking more calmly now, and they led us to a stretch of isolated, barren land. But we’ve scoured the area and found nothing.

    This is something, at least. I rub the back of my neck, fighting the weakness I feel deep in my bones. I will meet you in the L Room in one hour.

    But sir, he says, eyes trained on my arm, you’ll need assistance—there’s a process—you’ll require a convalescent aide—

    You are dismissed.

    He hesitates.

    Then, Yes, sir.

    Two

    I manage to bathe without losing consciousness.

    It was more of a sponge bath, but I feel better nonetheless. I have an extremely low threshold for disorder; it offends my very being. I shower regularly. I eat six small meals a day. I dedicate two hours of each day to training and physical exercise. And I detest being barefoot.

    Now, I find myself standing naked, hungry, tired, and barefoot in my closet. This is not ideal.

    My closet is separated into various sections. Shirts, ties, slacks, blazers, and boots. Socks, gloves, scarves, and coats. Everything is arranged according to color, then shades within each color. Every article of clothing it contains is meticulously chosen and custom made to fit the exact measurements of my body. I don’t feel like myself until I’m fully dressed; it’s part of who I am and how I begin my

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